Poll: What do you think about circumcision?

[willis888]

+1 vote against genital mutilation, involuntary or otherwise

 

[hashtag]

I voted the parent's choice, but what I really mean, is religious reasons. I really think you shouldn't circumcise, barring medical reasons, unless it's a religious reason. I just don't see a point to cutting off part of the dick for any non-religious reasons. Seems kinda weird.

"(10 points says poll gets eaten)" You, my friend, are out 10 points. I think I will use the points to buy a vineyard, out in the countryside.

What if the religion says you have to cut off the ears, would you be alright with that too?
What about the nostrils?
Or how about simple ritual scarring?

Keep knives away from infants if there's no medical reason to cut them.

Ears≠pointless piece of skin on your penis. Just saying.

The penis contains 24,000 nerve endings uncircumcised. The procedure takes away 20,000 nerve endings alone. The female clitoris has 8,000. Medical fact.

Where exactly is it "useless?" because you can live without it? That makes most of your body useless flesh.

How does that make most of your body useless? Your hair, that would be useless (as far as I can tell), but even eyebrows serve a purpose for your body. They keep seat out of your eyes. To me, the foreskin is like an appendix, I have both but do they serve a purpose I can see right now? No. If I had to live life without a foreskin, I would see a difference. But the fact that you can get along just as fine with/without a foreskin, pretty much makes it useless.

Forgot to include this in my post up there so, the nerve thing? It does suck that you would get less pleasure, however you'd be trading pleasure to last longer (basically) sooooo no bad points to it I can see.

 

[tzimize]

Kids should decide later. There is no other choice. If we allow parents to do stuff to their kids based on religious reasons we are on a slippery slope. What if I want to hit my kids for religious reasons? Touch them inappropriately? Circumcision is a disgusting tradition imo. Why a parent would want to cut the flesh of their own child is beyond me.

Its a more or less permanent change to the childs body that the child itself has no say over. If I wanted to tattoo my childs face like darth maul, would that be ok?

If people want to be circumcised, let them do so. When they are adults.

 

[tzimize]

Edit: Double post. Stupid pc stuff. Sorry -.-

 

[hashtag]

I voted the parent's choice, but what I really mean, is religious reasons. I really think you shouldn't circumcise, barring medical reasons, unless it's a religious reason. I just don't see a point to cutting off part of the dick for any non-religious reasons. Seems kinda weird.

"(10 points says poll gets eaten)" You, my friend, are out 10 points. I think I will use the points to buy a vineyard, out in the countryside.

What if the religion says you have to cut off the ears, would you be alright with that too?
What about the nostrils?
Or how about simple ritual scarring?

Keep knives away from infants if there's no medical reason to cut them.

Ears≠pointless piece of skin on your penis. Just saying.

The penis contains 24,000 nerve endings uncircumcised. The procedure takes away 20,000 nerve endings alone. The female clitoris has 8,000. Medical fact.

Where exactly is it "useless?" because you can live without it? That makes most of your body useless flesh.

Didn't know that. However, your ears actually serve a purpose, which is important. They allow you to hear better, and hearing things clearly hasn't been all that great for me, without ears I think it'd be alot harder to hear. And the nose? You can get through life fine, it's more a major cosmetic thing. Getting your penis mutilated, isn't something everyone's gonna see but your nose? People are gonna treat you much different.
How does that make most of your body useless? Your hair, that would be useless (as far as I can tell), but even eyebrows serve a purpose for your body. They keep seat out of your eyes. To me, the foreskin is like an appendix, I have both but do they serve a purpose I can see right now? No. If I had to live life without a foreskin, I would see a difference. But the fact that you can get along just as fine with/without a foreskin, pretty much makes it useless.

Forgot to include this in my post up there so, the nerve thing? It does suck that you would get less pleasure, however you'd be trading pleasure to last longer (basically) sooooo no bad points to it I can see.

Actually that point has been debunked as well. The damage to the nerve causes callouses, and can even cause sexual dysfunction later in life. There is no scientific evidence to support that it makes you last longer.

You can get around just fine without a nose, ears, etc. They don't effect your "life" but they still have uses.

 

[Knight Templar]

It's more hygienic than leaving it on since you need to clean under the foreskin regularly to prevent a build up of dead skin and whathaveyou..

With basic hygiene it isn't a problem and there is no difference, if a child isn't cleaning themselves then of course there is a risk of getting sick, the fix to that issue is not hacking bits off since that leaves little you won't remove.
Circumcision is rarely needed for medical reasons, and nobody is saying this shouldn't be done when needed just as a person saying you shouldn't give drugs to kids isn't saying they oppose anaesthetic.

Doctors and medical institutions in many nations would reject the notion it should be performed as a routine for medical reasons. With mild and dubious gains it isn't justified.

 

[Yopaz]

Involuntary body mutilation? sure why not?
From a medical point of view.
More recent evidence suggests that there are no health benefits from circumcision and it will make the penis less sensitive and sex will always be less enjoyable.

From a point of civil rights.
Permanent changes to our bodies should never be done without our consent or without our knowledge about the consequences. Most countries have a law against anyone under 18 getting a tattoo, but we're not even asked before a part of the body containing nerve tissue is cut off?

Now I will explain why it shouldn't be done from a religious view. Note, I am an Atheist to the core.
God created us in his image and every part of us is there by his desire. Circumcision messes with his creation and should thus be considered a sin.

 

[MaxwellEdison]

i can understand from a religious point of view of the parent, but until they get older i think the boy/man should decide.
Although...................it does have hygiene benefits and helps against certain infectious bacteria.

Edit: Also, sometimes during sex the foreskin can rip a little so that might be a reason for a man to decide to "snip snip"

Uncircumcised here, a bit curious as to where you got your information. It doesn't change hygiene at all (really confused about this myth that uncircumcised is harder to clean...), and I imagine it would take quite the sexual feat to tear a foreskin.

 

[Wushu Panda]

i was on another thread and a user posted a very negative comment about circumcision. I'm not gonna link to it, but he said parents shouldn't be allowed to circumcise their children and ones who do should be punished.

i'm circumcised and i can't imagine being uncircumcised, so i don't think it should be illegal. but what do you think?


(10 points says poll gets eaten)

Circumcision is bullshit, Penn and Teller say so.

It started as a religious practice by the Hebrew people, which is fine. But somewhere along the line other people started doing it too, maybe because they thought thats how you grow those sweet looking curly sideburns...im not sure.

But I do know that the vast majority of people act all weird about an uncirumcised penis, when in fact thats how its suppose to naturally be. its all fucked up.

 

[MaxwellEdison]

I just don't see a point to cutting off part of the dick for any non-religious reasons. Seems kinda weird.

Just to make sure i get this: essentially your argument is "God made man in his image, so let's turn around & cut the foreskin off because God said so?"

How does that make sense? (not inflammatory, i really don't understand how that makes any sense at all)

Dude, I'm an atheist. I just feel there's tradition, religion, and that can be over what your kids may feel. And while that may read odd, shit like that hurts really bad when you're a teenager or adult. I figure, if it is your religion just do it, I don't care.

Fellow atheist here. I don't think I'd be ok with my parents performing needless surgeries on me for religious reasons before I was aware enough to choose my religion.

 

[hashtag]

I just don't see a point to cutting off part of the dick for any non-religious reasons. Seems kinda weird.

Just to make sure i get this: essentially your argument is "God made man in his image, so let's turn around & cut the foreskin off because God said so?"

How does that make sense? (not inflammatory, i really don't understand how that makes any sense at all)

Dude, I'm an atheist. I just feel there's tradition, religion, and that can be over what your kids may feel. And while that may read odd, shit like that hurts really bad when you're a teenager or adult. I figure, if it is your religion just do it, I don't care.

Fellow atheist here. I don't think I'd be ok with my parents performing needless surgeries on me for religious reasons before I was aware enough to choose my religion.

I can agree with that.

 

[Sholtz]

see, the thing is, i'm glad my parents had me circumcised. Uncircumcised penises look horrible and too much like an animals penis. I know we're animals, but that doesn't mean we need to look like them just because it's natural.

I'm glad they had it done early mainly because it's riskier and a lot more painful later in life not to mention you don't remember it when it's done at birth.

also, to Wushu..."circumcision is bullshit, Penn and Teller say so." seriously? ....seriously? You lost all credibility with that line with me. Not because it's Penn and Teller ,I watch them all the time, but; because you apparently have to have someones "say so" to validate your beliefs.

 

[default]

Shouldn't it be someones personal choice whether they want part of their dick chopped off? Fuck you parents, just because I'm your child doesn't mean you get to mutilate my penis.

 

[Shinclone]

If it's for medical reasons, then it should be done. But like someone else here said if it's religious then it won't hurt to wait a few years and let the child decide for themselves.

 

[vgmaster831]

I think that it should be up to the individual when they're old enough to choose (say 16 or 18). I remember watching a clip of a debate online where one of the supporters of circumcision, when asked about the idea of leaving it up to the person at age 18, said "That's silly how many 18 year olds are going to volunteer to have their foreskin removed?" Which I found hilarious because that's exactly the point.

I'm uncircumcised and don't wish to be so. There are no real benefits to do so; just risks.

There is a proven sensory benefit, the foreskin has a lot of nerves that I wish I had. The risks involved with being uncircumcised are actually quite low. Infectious diseases can be eliminated with, and this is a bit shocking, soap! I think people who use this argument don't realize that the only thing necessary to prevent germs is proper hygiene. If your worried about uncleanliness, just remember when your showering to fold the skin back like your using fisstech and do a little scrubbing.

Edit:

see, the thing is, i'm glad my parents had me circumcised. Uncircumcised penises look horrible and too much like an animals penis. I know we're animals, but that doesn't mean we need to look like them just because it's natural.

I'm glad they had it done early mainly because it's riskier and a lot more painful later in life not to mention you don't remember it when it's done at birth.

Saying that an uncircumcised penis looks bad is irrelevant to the argument. I am circumcised, but I happen to love the look of uncircumcised penises (yes, that means other men's penises). Just because some people find something aesthetically pleasing doesn't mean you can force it permanently upon someone without their consent. As far as I'm concerned, it's just like tattooing a baby.

As for it being riskier and more painful when your older, that seems incorrect. I would guess that it is less risky, because older men are more resistant to infection and have bigger penises to hack away at (big target = less chance of mistake). If you have facts to the contrary please share, as that was a educated guess. As for the issue of pain, it's no more painful when you're older, you just remember it better. Plus, I would hazard many men would choose not to get circumcised, and then there would be zero pain.

 

[Bento Box]

I voted the parent's choice, but what I really mean, is religious reasons. I really think you shouldn't circumcise, barring medical reasons, unless it's a religious reason. I just don't see a point to cutting off part of the dick for any non-religious reasons. Seems kinda weird.

"(10 points says poll gets eaten)" You, my friend, are out 10 points. I think I will use the points to buy a vineyard, out in the countryside.

Spoiler: Disclaimer

This is not a personal attack, and any use of the word 'you' (with the exception of the very first instance where, in fact, I am addressing the author of the post) should be read in the personal sense to the reader.

I was sure this was going to turn religious -- I didn't expect it to be the very first post! Huzzah, escapist!

So, here's why you're wrong, and read carefully: Religion is not ever, in any circumstance, a fucking excuse to do anything you wouldn't do otherwise. I will never, and nobody should ever, accept the proposition that religious morality is a loophole around actual morality.

I don't believe in female genital mutilation -- and I don't believe that just because your religion says so, you should be allowed to mutilate female genitals.

I don't believe in ritual animal sacrifice -- and I don't believe that just because your religion says so, you should be compelled to kill an animal for no tangible reason.

I don't believe in ritual self-flagellation -- and I don't believe that just because your religion says so, you should flagellate yourself for any reason other than self-gratification.

I don't believe in flying passenger jets into skyscrapers -- and I don't believe that just because your religion says so, you should fly a passenger jet into a skyscraper.

I don't believe in slicing a baby's dick -- and I don't believe that just because your religion says so, you should slice your baby's dick.

So, I've qualified all of these with "I believe." Do you disagree? Should we allow all of those instances I just listed?

If you do believe that, then I suppose at least you're consistent.

You're also a monster.

Why not be consistent in the other direction, instead? Why not determine what is and isn't moral, irrespective of the tens of thousands of constantly-splintering religions say? Why not determine morality based on a reasonable consideration of where one person's rights should end, and another person's begin?

Fun fact about traditional Talmudic circumcision: The moil uses his fingernails to slice the baby's dick, and then he uses his mouth to suck the blood from the baby's sliced dick. As far as I'm concerned, removing the fingernails and infant-cock-bloodsucking is really irrelevant; you're still left with someone slicing a baby's dick.

As far as I'm concerned, my right to swing my fist ends at your nose, and anyone's right to slice things with their fingernails ends at a baby's dick.

Spoiler: T.M.I. AHEAD

OBTW, I'm cut. I was cut twice, and am still, believe it or not, still mostly intact -- I guess that makes me some kind of bizarre penile anomaly. Yes, I still believe that it makes my parents monstrous. No, I'm not bitter about it, but only because I recovered. If I were more religious and less ethical, I'd use myself as a message from God, that he doesn't want people to slice children's dicks anymore.

 

[Bento Box]

I think that it should be up to the individual when they're old enough to choose (say 16 or 18). I remember watching a clip of a debate online where one of the supporters of circumcision, when asked about the idea of leaving it up to the person at age 18, said "That's silly how many 18 year olds are going to volunteer to have their foreskin removed?" Which I found hilarious because that's exactly the point.

I'm uncircumcised and don't wish to be so. There are no real benefits to do so; just risks.

There is a proven sensory benefit, the foreskin has a lot of nerves that I wish I had. The risks involved with being uncircumcised are actually quite low. Infectious diseases can be eliminated with, and this is a bit shocking, soap! I think people who use this argument don't realize that the only thing necessary to prevent germs is proper hygiene. If your worried about uncleanliness, just remember when your showering to fold the skin back like your using fisstech and do a little scrubbing.

He meant that there are risks involved with circumcision. He agreed that there is no good reason to slice a... ehh, fingers are tired of all that text manipulation. Anyway, yeah, he was specifically saying that there are no benefits and plenty of risks involved in circumcision.

 

[GamerKT]

If you're going to get one, I advise you to NOT wait till you're an adult. I had to get one at 16. The following two weeks were the worst of my life. I had phimosis, so, unless I wanted to rip my foreskin during sex, it had to go. They only got rid of the foreskin, though. What's this "cutting off the tip of the dick" stuff you guys are talking about? Mine's fine.

Phimosis is easily cured with stretching exersises and a simple steriod cream unless it is really severe.

Unfortunately, that cream didn't do shit for me. I tried, though.

 

[Mr. Eff_v1legacy]

I don't see why religious reasons excuse bodily harm. I think if someone really wants it done, they should choose for themselves.

 

[Jonluw]

Parents cutting into the flesh of their children for no reason at all, or male genital mutilation, is a barbaric practice and should be stopped.
It has medical applications for example in the case of a too tight foreskin, and performing circumcision in those situations is reasonable. Cosmetic surgery without consent on small children though? Nuh-uh.